The best games with pattern building 2023

You love symmetry, colors & shapes - and board games? Then we have just the thing: a list of the 30 best games where you have to build patterns - in English it is called "Pattern Building".

What are pattern building games?

In pattern-building games, players place game components in specific patterns. The goal is to achieve fixed or variable task/results. For example: placing chips on 2, 4, 6, 8 on a board gives the player an action card to use later in the game.

Top example of games where you form patterns: Azul

A very good example of pattern-forming games is the Spiel des Jahres 2018 winner Azul: here, each time it's your turn, you first select a set usually consisting of four different colored tiles and then place them in a specific pattern on your board. The more contiguous and uniform the pattern, the more points you get.

Pattern making games usually very nice

Due to the special game mechanics of the patterns to be formed, the results are usually very aesthetic. If you are in the mood for even more beautiful games, we have created another list (in which, by the way, Azul came first): The most beautiful board games of all time.

List of the best games 2023 where you have to make patterns

This list was last updated on December 4, 2023. We compared 2548 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Cascadia

    All details for the board game Cascadia and similar games

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 7.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2022

    More details for Cascadia
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  2. Azul

    All details for the board game Azul and similar games

    Nominated for 29 awards and won 19.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2018

    🔥 Deal: 30% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Azul
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!24€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Azul

    • YouTube Review for the game "Azul" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  3. Carcassonne Big Box 6

    All details for the board game Carcassonne Big Box 6 and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 35 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Carcassonne Big Box 6

    • YouTube Review for the game "Carcassonne Big Box 6" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  4. Ohanami

    All details for the board game Ohanami and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  5. Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game

    All details for the board game Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game and similar games
    • 1 Players
    • 5 - 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  6. Project L

    All details for the board game Project L and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Project L
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  7. Welcome To...

    All details for the board game Welcome To... and similar games

    Nominated for 12 awards and won 2.

    More details for Welcome To...
    • 1 - 100 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Welcome To...

    • YouTube Review for the game "Welcome To..." by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Welcome To..." by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  8. Grove: A 9 card solitaire game

    All details for the board game Grove: A 9 card solitaire game and similar games
    • 1 Players
    • 5 - 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Sagrada

    All details for the board game Sagrada and similar games

    Nominated for 10 awards.

    More details for Sagrada
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Azul: Summer Pavilion

    All details for the board game Azul: Summer Pavilion and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 3.

    🔥 Deal: 10% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Azul: Summer Pavilion
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!28€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Azul: Summer Pavilion

    • YouTube Review for the game "Azul: Summer Pavilion" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Azul: Summer Pavilion" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  11. The Castles of Burgundy

    All details for the board game The Castles of Burgundy and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 70 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  12. Planet Unknown

    All details for the board game Planet Unknown and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2023

    More details for Planet Unknown
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 80 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  13. Akropolis

    All details for the board game Akropolis and similar games

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 5.

    More details for Akropolis
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. Super Mega Lucky Box

    All details for the board game Super Mega Lucky Box and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  15. Dragomino

    All details for the board game Dragomino and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 5.

    ⭐️ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for Dragomino
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  16. The Isle of Cats

    All details for the board game The Isle of Cats and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    More details for The Isle of Cats
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for The Isle of Cats

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Isle of Cats" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  17. The Castles of Burgundy

    All details for the board game The Castles of Burgundy and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.

    More details for The Castles of Burgundy
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for The Castles of Burgundy

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Castles of Burgundy" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  18. NMBR 9

    All details for the board game NMBR 9 and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for NMBR 9
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for NMBR 9

    • YouTube Review for the game "NMBR 9" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  19. Calico

    All details for the board game Calico and similar games

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.

    More details for Calico
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Welcome to the Moon

    All details for the board game Welcome to the Moon and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 25 - 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  21. Meeple Circus

    All details for the board game Meeple Circus and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Meeple Circus
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  22. Qwinto

    All details for the board game Qwinto and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  23. Botanik

    All details for the board game Botanik and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Botanik
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  24. Cube Quest

    All details for the board game Cube Quest and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    🔥 Deal: 8% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Cube Quest
    • 2 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    🔥 Great price!110€ atAmazon.de
  25. Takenoko

    All details for the board game Takenoko and similar games

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 7.

    More details for Takenoko
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Takenoko

    • YouTube Review for the game "Takenoko" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  26. Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra

    All details for the board game Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra

    • YouTube Review for the game "Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  27. Dr. Eureka

    All details for the board game Dr. Eureka and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Dr. Eureka
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  28. FUSE

    All details for the board game FUSE and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  29. Arboretum

    All details for the board game Arboretum and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for Arboretum
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Arboretum

    • YouTube Review for the game "Arboretum" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  30. Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

    All details for the board game Lanterns: The Harvest Festival and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Lanterns: The Harvest Festival
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

    • YouTube Review for the game "Lanterns: The Harvest Festival" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: